New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-13
TUE END OF THE STRIKE


leaders, who are naturally anxious to make
nlaus;bIe showing for themselves, the strike
has plainly ended in complete failure 1or the
strikers. When they are coolly told by Quinn
and Putnam to go back to work, knowing as
they do that their places are for the most part
already filed, and that the DEGREES of their
officials have no authority whatever with their
late employers, they must realize the folly OF
the course they have been pursuing, and must
see how frail reed they have been leaning
upon. After weeks of idleness after desper-
ate attempts to paralyze commerce and man
ufactures, after trying to produce coal fam
inc in this great city. they find that all their
efforts have recOiled upon themselves and that
they are the chief sufferers More than this,
their reckless indifference to the injury done to
the poorer of their fellOw-cltizens and their
utterly unjustifable attempt to dragOOn the
whole public into supporting them by inter-
fering with all business, has tended to ALLEVIATE
the sympathies which under ordinary con-
ditions would have been with them. They un-
dertook an impossibility, namely, control OF
property which they did not own. They sought
to violate that freedom of contract which is OF
the very essence of liberty. They fought labor
quite as much as capital. They planned mo-
nopoly moro intOlerable than any known to
history. And now they must perceive that
they have been on the wrong track from the
outset.
The event proves that labor cannot help
itself in any such ways. Capital cannot and
will not tolerate interference and dictatiOn
from irresponsible outsiders If workingmen
choose to submit to the despOtism of master
workmen" and walking delegates" and obey
all orders to abandon their work without ask
ing why they are to do so, they must be pre-
pared for the consequences. If they will not
consider that the only result of their striking
can be the employment of other workmen IN
their place. they must not blame any one for
the sufferngs their conduct brings upon them.
The most important lesson the failure of these
strikes should have for them is the folly of Civ
ing up their independence to men whose selfish
interests are served by fomenting labor troub-
les; who have nothing to lose and everything
to gain by forcing strikes; whose Importance
depends upon the figure they cut as "leaders" y;
and who, as experience has repeatedly shown,
can never be trusted to guard the real interests
of those whom they pretend to represent
Workingmen who surrender their rights as men
and citizens to secret organizations put them
selves in an unfortunate position. That some
of them are beginning to understand this is
shown in the revolt of the brewers and engi
neers against the dictatIOn of 90" That
revolt ought to be the entering wedge to break
up system which has nothing to recommend
it; which has effected nothing for labor; but
which has led it again and again into difficult
ties and then left 1t to cxtricate itself.
~ - &c xvbn
they please is as clear as the right of workmen
to work for whom they please. The two rights
60 together, and so long as civilization stands
they will be maintained. Capital must be free
just as labor Is free, and there never can come
a time when third parties having no interest in
the matter will be allowed to dictate terms be-
tween contracting persons. Tho situation OF
the men who abandoned their employment and
now find their places filed is to be pitied, but
no one in this world can escape the con-
sequences of his own acts, and they will have
to bear the results of their mistakes. If they
will now look into the management of the late
strikes and ascertain upon what grounds they
were ordered, and what practical justification
they had, the result Of the inquiry will open
their eyes, and they will probably never again
stop work at the bidding OF "walking
delegate without knowing the reasons of the
strike. If they desire the sympathy and moral
support of the public they must do this for
they certainly cannot hope to secure it for
wild and reckless raids upon all industry and
business. A study Of their obligations as
American citizens also would be of great service
to them, for 1t is obvious that several Of
the theories their leaders have
recently proclaimed are hostile to the
spirit of republican institutions, and if
they mean anything ut all signify
desire to overturn the Constitution and the
laws This is free country and it must be
kept so and American freedom involves re-
spect for the rights and liberties of all. II the
Knights of Labor will learn this they will not
waste their strength aud substance In any
moro impossible and unjust strikes like the
last.